Olivia Pelts

I specialize in helping others discover what barriers are keeping them from living the life they want and how to overcome them.

---

Olivia is a Licensed Professional Counselor Intern as well as a Nationally Certified Counselor who is under the direct supervision of play therapist and relationship aficionado, Ben Hutchings, LMHC. She has received specialized training in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as the model program for treating individuals 6-18 years of age with trauma backgrounds. Olivia views her job as being an advocate, someone who walks with you as you grow in awareness of yourself while capitalizing on your goals and dreams. Performance, for Olivia, speaks more to how well you are functioning across all areas of your life. Are there barriers that are keeping you from living in the full expression of who you are? Do you struggle to communicate effectively with your partner? Is anxiety taking over your life and preventing you from connecting with others? Struggling to silence the trauma and abuse from your past? Olivia's greatest joy is to help kids/adolescents/adults identify their deepest struggles in order to help them live a life they are excited about! Perform well. Live better.

Licensed Professional Counselor Intern at Open Doors Counseling Center

July 2013 - Present | Winter Park, FL

As a Mental Health Counselor, I work in a variety of capacities not the least of which include working individually with adolescents and adults. Having recently graduated from Denver Seminary, I am working as a Licensed Professional Counselor Intern and am being supervised by Ben Hutchings, LMHC one of the founding therapist's of Open Doors Counseling Center. I enjoy working with both religious and non-religious clients in a variety of areas but am specifically passionate about sexuality, addictions, and identity formation.

MA Counseling Intern at The Denver Rescue Mission

2013 - 2013

As a counseling intern at the Denver Rescue Mission, the majority of my caseload focuses on working with men, specifically addicts, in the New Life Program (NLP). This is a free rehabilitation program specifically for addicted homeless men stemming from a spiritual emphasis. In addition, I also assist the STAR Family Service Program by conducting assessments of prospective families and, at times, providing on-going therapy for these individuals.

Director of The Counselling Centre at International Christian Centre Church

2012 - December 2012

I was specifically brought into this organization to create a self-sustainable private practice as an extension of the International Christian Centre Church. My duties included but were not limited to developing formal and legal documents, assisting the pastors in understanding the role of Counseling within the church, as well as creating a client base in which I was afforded the opportunity to work cross-culturally with Kenyans. Anticipating my move back to the United States, I trained a licensed Kenyan woman to take over the position of Director. In doing so, the client load has tripled and is a self-sustaining entity as a ministry that serves the church members and the broader community. I now serve as a consultant of this counseling site in Nairobi, Kenya.

Adolescent Therapist at West Nairobi School

May 2012 - December 2012

I was afforded the opportunity to work with students on an international campus, within Nairobi, one day a week, following referrals from the school guidance counselor. Issues that I worked with included down syndrome, learning difficulties, third culture kid issues, divorce, self-esteem, identity formation, sexual abuse, and working with adopted children.

M.A. Counseling Intern at Tumaini Counselling Centre

February 2012 - December 2012

Working in a private practice setting that exclusively worked with missionaries and non-government workers, I was afforded the opportunity to perform assessments, debriefings, as well as long-term therapy. Working in such an environment, I was exposed to working on a team with Licensed Professional Counselors and Psychiatrists from the United States, a Christian Psychologist from Germany, and a Family Therapist from Canada as well as a Licensed Counselor from England. This experience provided numerous points of learning in addition to working on a diverse team with a variety of perspectives and specialties. A few of the issues I worked with included marriage, anxiety/depression, same-sex attraction, debriefings from evacuations, separation anxiety in children, identity formation, life transitions, and adjustment disorders.

Denver Seminary

2010 – 2013

Master of Arts (M.A.)

Covenant College

2006 – 2010

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

Concentration: Sociology

Health and Wellness, Sexuality, Trauma, Foster Care, Adoption. Olivia works with athletes, children and human beings who aspire to be all that they were created to be!